Closer EnPete Fairbanks made sure that happened eliminating any doubts with a dominant ninth inning getting closer to first place and having a reason for a very happy flight back home to Tampa and not blowing a game that looked like a rout for most of a rainy Sunday in the Bronx no less — would have been devastating for a team that's been down in the dumps a lot already in the first month of the season He came in to pitch the ninth with the score at 7-5 after the Yankees plated three runs in the eighth inning was re-engaged after the eighth inning rally All Fairbanks did was blow right through the top of the New York order then fanned superstar Aaron Judge and closed out the game by blowing away Cody Bellinger 16-18 now and just three games out of the AL East race despite going long stretches without hitting The starting pitching — especially Drew Rasmussen Shane Baz and Taj Bradley — has been mostly good and Jonathan Aranda is turning into an All-Star at first base Rookie center fielder Chandler Simpson has added a huge spark with his speed and bat-to-ball skills But there may not be a more important player on the Rays roster than Fairbanks and getting the last three outs in any game are always the toughest to get But Fairbanks has been perfect in that high-profile role this season He got his eighth save in eight tries on Sunday closing out the ninth with three straight strikeouts and New York's best players couldn't even get a ball in play But he's been nearly that dominant in all his saves and that gives manager Kevin Cash — and all of Fairbanks' teammates — plenty to be confident about Here's what he does so far in his eight saves: There's a lot that jumps out in Fairbanks' run because he's gotten 11 outs in a row in his last four saves in the past eight days he's allowed just four hits and two walks — and only one has gotten to third base Opponents are hitting just .143 against him and He's pitched 14 games overall — six were non-save situations — and he did give up two runs to the Yankees on April 19 when he allowed three hits and two walks and had to be yanked The Rays scored four times in the bottom of the 10th to get him off the hook He also gave up a run to the Angels in a tie game and took the loss being perfect in save opportunities is a big deal Only Robert Suarez (13) of San Diego and Andres Munoz (12) of Seattle have saved more games this year without a blown save especially in the ninth inning of a tense game And that's a great way to start the season The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER NOTE: First time signing on? Please register your purchase Here.** This registration is only required on your first login We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription Your current subscription does not provide access to this content Please use the button below to manage your account Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight The Globe Fire burns north of the Elliott Highway on June 27 and along the Richardson Highway between Fairbanks and North Pole Fire officials plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns on military training lands near Fairbanks and North Pole beginning as early as Monday to reduce the risk of wildfires later this summer The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service will carry out controlled burns in live-fire ranges within the Yukon Training Area near Eielson Air Force Base and the Fort Wainwright Small Arms Complex south of Fairbanks Burning operations could continue through May 25 Prescribed fires are intentionally ignited under controlled conditions to remove dry grass and other flammable vegetation that could fuel more dangerous wildfires during hotter Officials say spring burning allows for better control and reduces smoke impacts on surrounding communities Fire crews will ignite burns only when weather conditions are favorable and operations will be monitored closely to meet state and federal air quality standards The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has approved the burn plan and BLM officials say trained personnel will remain on-site until the fires are fully out contact BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs at 907-356-5510 or the Yukon Fire Dispatch Center at 907-356-5555 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Fairbanks was able to squeeze in a baseball game Thursday amid rainy and damp field conditions The Panthers started off hot and held a 6-1 lead after the second inning a pair of Grandview home runs in the fifth and sixth flipped the script and culminated in a 9-6 win for the visitors Cloudy early with some clearing expected late Pictured are the Alaska Gold Panners baseball team as they prepared to depart last week for the National Baseball Congress tournament now being held at Wichita The first team to represent Alaska in the tournament were surprise winners of a strong Tennessee state championship team yesterday and will meet the winner of the Wisconsin-Mississippi game Thursday in their second contest Image from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner August 20 The Fairbanks Goldpanners struck it rich in the summer of 1964 with a poke of gold and a mining claim when KFAR began running live broadcasts of the Panner’s games when they were at the annual tournament in Wichita The radio broadcasts reached some far-flung regions of the Interior region of the state and before you know it some Forty-Mile miners showed their appreciation and 32 other state and bi-state champions were saluted last night at Wichita in opening ceremonies for the National Baseball Congress annual championship tournament The Gold Panners are scheduled to play the Greenville (Tenn.) Magnavox Sunday evening under lights KFAR radio station here has announced that it will broadcast the game live from Wichita beginning at 5:45 p.m Announcer Bill Walley is at Wichita to deliver the play-by-play is reportedly to be televised throughout Kansas and Oklahoma Tuesday night the loser of the Goldpanners vs Magnavox game will play the loser of a game between the Cherokee (Okla.) Chiefs and the Lansing (Ill.) Old-timers which was the first to arrive at the tournament center went the longest distance (4,700 miles) ever traveled by a team to compete in the Wichita tournament Boucher said members of the team made more than 15 appearances on radio and television in Seattle under the lights at McConnel AFB and was to work out twice yesterday Two Miners From Forty Mile District Give 12 Ounce Poke of Gold to Panners In possession of a “poke” of genuine newly mined Alaska gold and lots of hope Goldpanner manager H (Red) Boucher will board a pan American jet here tonight and head south to join his touring Alaska Goldpanners Boucher will join the Goldpanners at Grand Junction in time for the series with that top non-professional ball club and will be auctioned off during the non-professional baseball World Series beginning there on Aug was the unexpected gift of two miners from the Forty Mile District who came to know the Goldpanners from radio broadcasts that reached their distant mining camp Boucher said the miners flatly refused to allow their names to be used but said the generous supply of nuggets came from Hall Creek No A second surprise gift to the Goldpanners from their two new mining benefactors was a 660’ by 1,370’ mining claim reputed to be “good ground.” The claim has been dubbed the “Goldpanner No The two miners ran into Boucher on a Fairbanks street one day recently and commented on how much they enjoyed the ball game broadcasts Baseball talk led to more baseball talk and before he knew it the Goldpanners were in possession of a “poke of gold” and a mining claim The Goldpanners begin a four-game series with Grand Junction tonight with right-handed Tom Seaver starting on the mound all American pitcher from University of Southern California will join the Goldpanners in Grand Junction The Goldpanners still have the “Poke of Gold” they were expecting to use for promotion in Wichita there was a little question in Wichita about the legality of selling chances on the poke and time did not permit the necessary promotion Boucher reported the poke will be used in next season’s series with the Gand Junction Eagles "Let's look back at some of our history together." Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community there are no recent results for popular collections Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight Phil Handy breaks down film at Effie Kokrine Phil Handy pictured with two UPAK youth players Phil Handy provides instruction during a workout at the SRC Phil Handy providing instruction during a workout at the SRC Effie Kokrine Charter School’s gymnasium was the site for a meeting of the minds Saturday morning as many of the local basketball leaders met up to learn from long-time NBA assistant Phil Handy at a coaches’ clinic made parallels between coaching and parenting and dove into the finer points of spacing A small handful of prep players were present, and Handy held a workout at UAF’s Student Recreation Center for about seven girls, as well as Ruthy Hebard Handy has worked with countless NBA stars and Hall of Famers he posted film breakdowns alongside nine-time NBA All Star guard Kyrie Irving — who won an NBA championship with Handy on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 — to his Instagram account with over 428,000 followers he encourages aspiring basketball players to be your own goat (the acronym for “greatest of all time”) Handy also has a basketball training business (94 Feet Of Game) which he launched in 1999 a decade before he began his 14-year NBA assistant coaching career in which he won NBA championships with Irving and LeBron James on the Cavaliers Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors and James again with the Los Angeles Lakers “I’ve had a chance to coach some of the best players that have played,” Handy told the News-Miner “I think a lot of people have always been enamored by them because they’re great athletes but so many people are so focused on trying to be someone else it was just trying to inspire people to find their level of greatness every day no matter what they’re doing in life Why not wake up every day and try to be great that day?” This weekend marked the second time Handy has been to Alaska and the first time he’s visited Fairbanks He played in the Great Alaska Shootout in 1993 when he was a member of the University of Hawaii basketball team hosted by UPAK at Effie Kokrine both Saturday and Sunday was organized by Jimmy Parrish and Bailey Strategies Parrish had followed Handy for years and took his son to one of Handy’s camps in Thousand Oaks “That’s what sparked all of this,” Parrish said I wanted to go see the possibility of him coming to Alaska and helping teach us how to teach basketball here Handy instead took on head coaching duties in the Unrivaled Basketball League a first-of-its-kind women’s full court three-on-three league broadcast on national television from January to March His diversity of experience helps him to provide advice to coaches he’d never met about athletes he’d never heard of there’s only so many variations that you can go to,” Handy said I don’t care who you’re coaching or what your team is Are you able to hold your kids accountable?” Handy met a variety of questions from Alaska coaches He also engaged the athletes who were on hand in his film breakdown never getting to actually have an NBA coach do live film breakdown for you [before] it’s just really impressive,” Parrish said Handy’s 94 Feet of Game, the name of which reflects the length of NBA and college basketball courts, offers a customizable training app, live events and coaching/training sessions, mostly based out of California. It focuses on “instructing basketball players how to be skilled one of Handy’s points of emphasis Saturday was the importance of star players being willing to set screens What he gleaned from his first impression would suggest that shouldn’t be a problem “The kids that we’ve had a chance to work with So I think the basketball community here in Alaska is hungry and it wants to grow and it wants to get more information Contact Gavin Struve at gstruve@newsminer.com or 907-459-7544 there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos A plume of smoke rises across from the McDonald Fire on June 30 The flames and smoke are seen across the Tanana River from the Richardson Highway The McDonald Fire was the largest within the Fairbanks North Star Borough since 2004 Although total acres burned in Alaska wildfires this year fell below the recent average the McDonald Fire was among those that created smoke problems in communities The Fairbanks North Star Borough reported the first wildfire of the year on Wednesday with a small flareup on Fort Wainwright but it does highlight the need to clear the spaces in our homes and be FireWise,” Hopkins said Thursday Delta Junction and others hosted a multi-jurisdictional emergency planning workshop to address response to local emergency response measures for incidents such as wildfires and floods Fairbanks resident Polly Koutchak raised that issue and urged the borough to be prepared she said much of the landscape along the Parks Highway “looked bone dry.” “It’s a real psychologically stunning issue for me because I care for my community,” Koutchak said “Our lives might be threatened with the upcoming fire season so I want to encourage property owners to take whatever it takes to make the perimeter around their homes and properties as safe as possible.” She added that it might be critically important for some areas of the borough that lack water suppression infrastructure such as fire hydrants or water storage towers the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service and U.S Army Garrison will start prescribed burns in several areas of the Yukon Training Area near Eielson Air Force Base and the Fort Wainwright Small Arms Complex south of Fairbanks the prescribed burning may run through May 25 “Taking preventative measures now will decrease the fire danger around military training targets used during the summer when conditions are hotter the surrounding woods are dry and more receptive to burning and available firefighting resources may be limited,” the BLM stated The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection plan to start prescribed burns in June 2025 in the Delta Junction Bison Range Contact reporter Jack Barnwell at 907-459-7587 or jbarnwell@newsminer.com University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates light up the Carlson Center with light sticks in advance of the Nanook Wave on Saturday The Carlson Center erupted in appreciation as more than balloons dropped from the ceiling in… is seen here receiving patriotic welcome home greetings at Fairbanks International Airport on April 25 after spending the week in Washington D.C which celebrates military veterans’ service to our nation North Pole High School students are putting their change toward Fairbanks Meals on Wheels by voting — in the form of donated change — for which teacher will shave his or her head at a pep rally later this month Three North Pole High teachers are in a head-to-head (literally) competition Nalugalria Joevahnta Usugan-Weddington celebrates with family after walking in the University of Alaska Fairbanks graduation ceremony on Saturday Colby Wright of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute extends a camera into a sinkhole that developed in the northeast corner of campus Leanne Bulger recently found a new hole in the forest floor on the west end of Fairbanks Smokestack emissions are seen along the Fairbanks skyline on March 1 At left is the coal-fired heat and power plant on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus hundreds of workers at Alaska’s biggest gold mine dig up Athletes prepare for the start of the Nordic cross country race on the first day of the 2024 Western Interior Ski Association (WISA) Championships at Birch Hill March 28 Birch Hill Recreation Area contains several borough-maintained buildings and the 10,000-square-foot Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly awarded Design Alaska a $295,380 contract Thursday to design a multipurpose building at Birch Hill Recreation Area Public Works Director David Bredlie said the 5,000-square-foot facility would replace the warming hut which is used for bib pickup during race and ski events the replacement facility would be used for “warm-up ski race management and multipurpose use.” Assemblymember Tammie Wilson asked for the estimated construction cost Bredlie said Design Alaska will be asked to design a $4 million facility Bredlie added it was too early to estimate future maintenance costs Assemblymember Barbara Haney also questioned the eventual construction cost adding she had voted to replace a warming hut — not a $4 million facility “This just seems like it’s much more grandiose than I recall approving,” Haney said The Assembly approved the design budget for the multipurpose building as part of the current Capital Improvement Program Bredlie said the Assembly had previously budgeted $40,000 and added another $360,000 in CIP funds for design last year “This is something that has already been passed and is only for the design of the facility,” said Assemblymember Kristan Kelly what they are talking about using it for would be to bring more competitions to town and how much money they raise when they do come to town It might get to an Olympic level of competition.” The CIP currently lists the project’s construction as “beyond years,” a designation for projects without assigned funding Kelly said the multipurpose building is a worthwhile project and that awarding the design bid doesn’t mean the borough is immediately spending $4 million She added that the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks is actively fundraising to help pay for construction The club’s volunteers maintain trails at the recreation area and help organize events During separate public testimony on the upcoming budget Nordic Ski Club Executive Director Thad Keener said investing in Birch Hill will boost its appeal for competitive ski events He added that he has connections with several major organizations in the western United States that could consider Fairbanks as a skiing destination “What that design does is give me the ability to sit down with large foundations,” he said noting those conversations could leverage future investments Citing an Explore Fairbanks economic impact report he noted the event injected $730,000 into the local economy — on top of other events hosted by the ski club Due to a lack of snow in Anchorage this past winter the Nordic Ski State Championships were relocated to Fairbanks and Birch Hill Keener estimated that about 240 skiers participated The Assembly approved the design contract in a 5–4 vote Liz Reeves-Ramos and Brett Rotermund voting no Jennifer Demientieff dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and Kirt Demientieff dressed up as any literary character in a stylish jumpsuit to support their community The 12th annual spring fundraiser for the John Trigg Ester Library encouraged attendants to dress as their favorite literary character or wear a book-themed costume dressed as a T-Rex from "Jurassic Park," the book by Michael Crichton leads a tour of the building’s renovations on Wednesday Residents packed the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly chambers on Thursday as more than 50 people testified on the upcoming 2025-2026 budget Most people advocated for keeping the Mary Siah Recreation Center open and defended the Carlson Center remaining open The Assembly Finance Committee voted 6-3 to recommend Mary Siah’s closure which would have resulted in a net $68,000 The majority vote justified it due to the building’s age The Carlson Center survived a failed 4-5 vote to be closed after member Tammie Wilson argued it was time to evaluate a building long subsidized by the borough and operational expenses overshadowed its revenue A similar vote to close Joy Community Center (formerly Joy Elementary) failed in a 4-5 vote Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins’ proposed $207 million budget includes $163 million for areawide general services appropriation included $60 million for the borough’s required contribution to local education about $2 million more than what was provided in 2024 The original recommended budget would have required a $9.5 million draw on borough savings The Finance Committee has since whittled that down to a $6 million draw Mary Siah drew a wellspring of support similar to one seen in 2023 when the pool was last on the chopping block it faced another closure risk when former Borough Mayor Karl Kassel proposed demolishing it and constructing a modern aquatics center the Assembly nixed the idea and appropriated $2.1 million in 2019 to address maintenance issues Public Works Director David Bredlie said it was only a band-aid but the Assembly reduced funding for at least three lifeguard positions several residents defended Mary Siah’s continued operation citing that it’s the only borough pool that benefits seniors people with disabilities and young children Other features include close access from the parking lot better water temperatures and staff who could accommodate the pool’s users “Mary Siah is the only facility that tries to accommodate physically disabled and elderly borough residents,” said Carrie Nash “The building is a real community center .. then Mary Siah is a legitimate use of borough funds.” said the borough doesn’t need Mary Siah specifically “but it desperately needs the services it provides.” we need to provide those services elsewhere,” he said said the Patty Center Pool cannot accommodate Mary Siah’s entire group of users despite suggestions from some Assemblymembers “The UAF pool is not friendly to people with mobility issues infants and seniors with poor body temperatures,” he said while the borough pools average 83 degrees He said Mary Siah and other aging pools should close but only after the borough replaces it with a new aquatics center He argued that the borough needs a parks and recreation master plan that outlines the borough’s priorities Residents also supported keeping the Carlson Center open The 35-year-old building was constructed in 1990 as a state capital investment The borough owns and has operated the facility for most of its existence The borough put it under private management between 2016 and 2021 but the firm faced deep dissatisfaction with its users The borough resumed direct management in 2021 operating the Carlson Center would cost $1.16 million The borough would subsidize it with $722,630 said it would cost $500,000 to heat and secure the Carlson Center and $6 million to demolish it the borough subsidized it for $500,000 a year it has spent about $10 million to rehabilitate the facility including a modernized hockey rink refrigeration system The Carlson Center is a hub for several conventions the UAF Nanook hockey team and youth hockey leagues The Nanooks use the Patty Ice Area for practice and annual scrimmage Patty seats 1,200 compared to the Carlson Center’s 5,100-seat arena the executive director of the Hockey Club Fairbanks and the president of the UAF Hockey booster club said the Nanooks and youth hockey rely heavily on the Carlson Center to host games and practice “The loss of the Carlson Center would be detrimental to the team and UAF athletics,” Culley said “UAF is a major user group at the Carlson Center.” UAF Athletics Director Brock Anundson agreed noting the Nanooks could likely be dismantled if the Carlson Center closes said the Carlson Center is unique as an affordable venue She said her organization held two successful bouts over two years attracted more than 1,000 spectators and raised $10,000 for Bread Line “It’s a unique place because it hosts daycare and church events,” she said “Where else will the Foo Fighters play when in town?” Assemblymembers asked whether the borough should raise facility user fees and rental rates to offset costs Some residents proposed hiking hotel bed taxes for tourists or taxing rental vehicles “You have a revenue problem,” Oldmixon said “Develop programs and options that keep people here to spend their money not making it so hard to enjoy this place they want to leave Kevin Adamson proposed ideas such as creating booster organizations foundations or private-public partnerships to close the gap noted that the borough economy benefits directly from recreation facilities and activities He noted that ski championships relocate to Birch Hill Recreation Area when Anchorage lacks snow Several residents used the public hearing as a sounding board citing that parks and recreation options in general are needed as a quality of life factor cited ongoing budget deficits and a large gap in the Carlson Center budget as reasons to close facilities Those decisions could be balanced by “opening private sector facilities She occasionally referred to plans for UAF to build a new ice arena which haven’t materialized due to ongoing state budget concerns The Assembly will make its final decision on the budget at 6 p.m on Thursday at the Juanita Helms Administration Center the Fort Knox gold development outside Fairbanks Powering Fort Knox generates more greenhouse gas emissions and costs more than at each of the other mines operated by owner Kinross Offshore oil and gas platforms in Cook Inlet once provided a cheap source of energy to Anchorage-area electric utilities But gas has become increasingly expensive to extract from the Inlet and the utilities have stopped selling power to the Interior and are now looking to import cargoes of LNG to power their generators Fort Knox produced 377,000 gold equivalent ounces last year Wind turbines spin at a development on Kodiak Island Wind turbines spin on Fire Island outside Anchorage crush and grind thousands of tons of ore each day The sprawling Fort Knox mine consumes $40 million worth of power every year — more than any other business in the state and some 16% of the power produced by Fairbanks’ electric utility It’s also a huge source of planet-warming greenhouse gases Power at Fort Knox costs more and accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than each of the company’s other operations the Interior’s other major gold mine and the state’s second largest have spent millions of dollars on solar and wind power to curb carbon emissions and costs at their mines at least for now: pushing the cooperatively owned utility that sells them electricity the two multinational gold mining companies have emerged as key players in the movement to get that utility their efforts have not fully succeeded: The utility has yet to commit to any large new wind or solar projects and it continues to generate most of its electricity by burning coal and oil But the miners’ push underscores how multibillion-dollar resource development corporations have turned into odd bedfellows with Alaska’s climate activists — both calling for the state’s utilities to limit their contributions to global warming have faced social and political pressure from shareholders and government regulators to reduce their environmental impacts They’ve also seen the cost of solar and wind power fall due to government subsidies and technological improvements making renewables more competitive with fossil fuels as the Trump administration promotes carbon-based fuels and threatens to claw back billions of dollars of clean energy funding The stakes are high not only for the mining corporations but also for Golden Valley Electric Association’s more than 36,000 members — including many residents of Fairbanks who pay less for electricity as a result of the utility’s massive power sales to the mines Renewable energy advocates say replacing fossil fuels with new wind and solar power could lower long-term costs for homes and businesses in Fairbanks and other towns in the Interior a looming shortage of natural gas in Cook Inlet is putting pressure on Golden Valley Electric Association “The gas crisis and the new administration have really changed how people are approaching this,” said Eleanor Gagnon who works on energy policy at the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition “I think it has the potential to push us forward toward renewables and carbon neutrality — or push us deeper into our fossil fuel track.” with some board members worried that moving too quickly away from conventional energy sources like coal could drive up costs But if the utility doesn’t invest in new wind or solar and keeps burning large volumes of fossil fuels Kinross and Northern Star might be compelled to build their own That would have consequences across the region: Losing the utility’s two biggest customers could raise electricity costs for thousands of people in Fairbanks an energy historian at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who is also a GVEA member “If GVEA does not commit to building out the next generation of renewables the mines may go out and get alternative sources of lower-carbon power — and all GVEA ratepayers would be paying more,” Wight said “This is the million dollar question,” Wight added “Why is GVEA not moving forward with building generation that utilities are pursuing because it’s cheaper?” To separate valuable metals from plain rock mining companies crush and grind ore into tiny pieces — a heavy industrial process that uses loads of electricity That means energy is usually one of the top expenses for mining companies it’s also one of companies’ largest sources of planet-heating emissions Fort Knox’s 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions in 2023 represent 20% more greenhouse gases per ounce of gold produced when compared to the company’s second highest-emitting mine The $40 million in yearly power consumption at Fort Knox represents a disproportionate financial expense The company’s high costs and emissions in Alaska put Fort Knox at a “disadvantage” in Kinross’s internal decisions about future investments “Kinross Alaska is always competing with other Kinross sites for investment,” she said The company has already been working to reduce energy consumption and climate impacts in Alaska as it seeks to eliminate or fully offset carbon pollution at its mines by 2050 Fort Knox has tweaked its ore grinding process to make it more efficient and shortened haul routes to cut down on diesel use Kinross isn’t developing any of its own large-scale clean energy projects in Alaska Building renewables at the mine “would be challenging due to Alaska’s expansive geography and extreme climate,” she said But Kinross might consider a “smaller scale” development She would not elaborate on how big of a project the company might build though the company spent $55 million on a solar farm at a huge mine in Mauritania which also has a goal of fully offsetting emissions at its mines by midcentury has indicated that it might invest in wind power at the Pogo mine which is about 40 miles northeast of the Interior community of Delta Junction But the company hasn’t disclosed any concrete plans to do so Northern Star suggested that it expects to develop a project at Pogo in 2025 that would move it toward a companywide goal of lowering emissions by 35% this decade A Northern Star spokesperson would not provide details about that project which is labeled simply in the report as “Pogo GRID 16 MW.” That figure appears to refer to 16 megawatts of power that Pogo draws from the grid No major operating mines in Alaska are powered by private solar or wind farms At the massive Red Dog zinc mine in Northwest Alaska Vancouver-based Teck Resources said last year that it would install a weather tower to study the potential for generating renewable power according to a company spokesperson who declined to comment further GVEA generated more than 80% of its power from fossil fuels — primarily coal The rest comes from a mix of existing wind GVEA bought relatively inexpensive gas-fired electricity that other utilities generated in the Anchorage area But a shortage of natural gas in Cook Inlet has severed that supply indefinitely GVEA announced last year that it had secured nearly $500 million in federal loans and grants that would help it vastly expand its use of renewables That money would pay for two battery systems to store power from new wind and solar projects when it’s not sunny or windy It also would cover more than 60 miles of new transmission lines allowing the utility to tap into proposed wind farms in the Interior But boosters of renewables have grown frustrated that the utility still lacks firm plans to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels the federal funds for GVEA’s infrastructure upgrades are in limbo amid the Trump administration’s broad freeze on green energy spending Federal officials on March 25 gave funding recipients a month to propose project changes that align with President Donald Trump’s executive order on “unleashing American energy” and to “remove far-left climate features.” GVEA was given only 500 characters to outline those revisions GVEA’s board voted in 2022 to shut down one of its two big coal power plants — a step toward lowering emissions and moving to renewables citing the natural gas supply crunch and saying it would keep operating the coal plant until lower-cost alternatives became available it signed a new contract with Usibelli Coal Mine — the state’s only supplier of the fuel — to buy more feedstock for the plant which burns some 200,000 tons of coal each year While coal comes with high carbon emissions and utility leaders fear that replacing it with renewables could boost costs and reduce reliability for consumers If Golden Valley adds more wind and solar power it would need a way to store energy and consistently distribute it and “there’s a cost associated with that,” Bradish said “Our current battery can’t provide that regulation.” The utility has not released an analysis showing how rates would change if it were to replace fossil fuel-fired power with renewables “That’s part of what we’re studying,” Bradish said like Gagnon with Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition say there’s also a cost associated with continuing to burn fossil fuels GVEA is paying some $14 million to build two storage tanks at the Fairbanks-area oil refinery that it buys fuel from “The mines’ support of renewables is evidence for the cost-effectiveness of renewables,” said Gagnon Kinross and Pogo — whose mines collectively account for about 30% of the utility’s energy sales — haven’t said how long they’ll wait on GVEA before building their own wind or solar farms said her company wants to see GVEA take steps “soon,” but she would not elaborate “It is not our role to specify to GVEA as to its generation and power supply portfolio,” Riedel said “What we need from our provider is electricity that is reliable low cost and the least environmental impact possible It is up to the provider to determine how to get there.” GVEA communicates closely with Kinross and Northern Star about their emissions reduction targets Losing them as customers “absolutely would have an impact on our membership,” she added “It’s something that is definitely thought about when we’re moving forward.” Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Websites can be scrubbed of climate change references and the U.S. halted from international and national climate assessments but rising temperatures leave their own evidence especially in the nation’s most northern state Temperatures have climbed for decades in Alaska, where it’s warming two- to three-times faster than the global average. The heat warms surrounding waters, shrinks glaciers and sea ice and creates more hazardous conditions for people National Weather Service offices in Juneau and Fairbanks will start issuing heat advisories for the first time this summer climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska special weather statements were used to communicate heat risks The new advisories starting June 1 will “more clearly identify the hazardous heat” and allow easily seen heat alerts on websites, according to the public notice from the weather service an advisory will be sent out if the temperature is forecast to reach 75 degrees advisories will kick in when the temperature is forecast for 80 degrees or higher Thoman joked with a colleague that 75 degrees would “get some chuckles in the lower 48.” Those who live in sunbaked southern states in the nation may scoff but in parts of Alaska that’s enough to make conditions dangerous The 30-year average overnight minimum temperature has climbed more than 4 degrees in Fairbanks since 1960 it works “whether it’s 40 below outside or 85,” he said it’s also during the longest days of the year “It’s not only that temperatures are going up, but in many areas we’re getting increasing wildfire smoke in the summer,” Thoman said “So the impact of the temperatures is changing.” Fairbanks residents have to ask themselves if they want to be cool “If you have to have your windows closed for three days you don't have air conditioning and your house is built to hold heat pretty soon your indoor air temperature is higher than it is outside." Even a small increase in temperature means more evaporation which leaves plants and shrubs drier than normal and more likely to burn In the more wildfire-prone parts of the state which dries things out sooner than it used to The start of Alaska's wildfire season has been moved forward from May 1 to April 1 and the frequency of “really big” fire seasons with 2 million to 3 million acres burning has doubled this century compared with the last half of the 20th century “We are getting more wildfire in places that used to hardly ever see wildfire The state is on the frontlines of climate change with dramatic changes “real and visible," according to The Nature Conservancy chapter in Alaska especially rural Alaskans and Indigenous Peoples have learned by experience “Alaskans are experiencing and adapting to a changing climate and its ramifications at breakneck speed.” Studies have linked the deaths of billions of snow crabs in the region to warming temperatures The shrinking sea ice also has been a concern of the U.S. military for decades Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate change and the environment for USA TODAY. She's been writing about wildfire since the Florida firestorm of 1998 Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at info@youralaskalink.com or call us at 907 561 1313 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFAIRBANKS a Facebook post claiming to be made on behalf of Standifer’s family announced that Standifer’s body had been located then confirmed directly to Alaska’s News Source that the 21-year-old had been found dead FPD officers “came to the house,” Koyukuk said adding that someone riding a bike had found Standifer While Fairbanks Police Department Spokesperson Teal Soden confirmed that a body was found near Eagan Avenue on Saturday evening she did not comment on the identity of the deceased saying that the department is awaiting positive identification which must be established by the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage She added that FPD would investigate any posts indicating the discovery of a body that the department was unaware of and said the state medical examiner will determine the cause of death More information will be made public once that happens Since the initial post from family members several other messages on social media sites have offered prayers for the young man’s family and a search that had been planned for May 3 was canceled See a spelling or grammatical error? Report it to web@ktuu.com Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late a Fairbanks Economic Development Corp program manager highlights some of successes and advantages of the Alaska Interior Business Accelerator during a presentation on Tuesday Claims of self-defense failed to persuade a Fairbanks jury Tuesday as they found Kevin Robinson Jr guilty of first-degree murder for killing his former co-defendant As Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Earl Peterson read the jury's decision nodded slowly to himself before dropping his head into his hands Robinson was charged in 2022 after using a friend's handgun to shoot Robert Rones Robinson and Rones had an intertwined criminal history having accepted separate plea deals after robbing a Fairbanks McDonald's together in 2019 Tuesday's verdict follows six days of trial during which state prosecutors aimed to build a narrative that showed Robinson was retaliating against Rones for helping police identify him in the McDonald's case Prosecutors brought in witnesses who recalled a post the defendant made on Snapchat in the weeks before killing Rones Robinson used a slang phrase to refer to Rones as his opponent Deputy District Attorney Andrew Baldock said the number of bullets Robinson fired at Rones eliminates any questions about his intent That certainly is powerful evidence of intent This defendant chose to pull the trigger on that firearm 13 times – over and over and over and over and over again – until he actually couldn't fire anymore because the gun was empty," Baldock said The prosecution team had also replayed interviews between Robinson and investigators in which he initially denied but later admitted his involvement in the shooting But he also insisted he had only wanted to fight his former codefendant that day in 2022 That insistence was a big part of the defense's argument mostly sought to form a case that demonstrated Robinson's decision to start shooting was a self-defensive Investigators testified that they found no gun in Rones' car but Duvlea maintained her client didn't know that This is not a case of murder in the first degree Kevin saw Robert making a move toward his glovebox and he felt like he had to defend himself," she said Jury deliberations lasted about three hours Tuesday Their verdict also convicts Robinson of third-degree weapons misconduct and found him guilty of a so-called aggravating factor in the murder charge That factor required that the victim of the murder had offered testimony or evidence against the defendant in a previous case Robinson's sentencing is scheduled for Oct owned the gun Kevin Robinson used to kill Rones and was also present during the shooting Alaska (KTVF/KTUU) - Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs apologized Monday saying he “meant no disrespect” to organizations and residents who have accused him of making discriminatory social media comments Friday Responding to another Facebook user’s post more people have come in from villages or come out of shelters to live their lifestyle We operate the downtown on behalf of Fairbanks residents the mayor told Alaska’s News Source that while he felt compelled Friday to respond to a “very discouraging he felt described parts of the city as “a very ugly toilet.” The mayor said he also felt compelled to apologize for how his message had been received The response comes days after the Tanana Chiefs Conference and Fairbanks Native Association both expressed disapproval of Pruhs’ statements the Chief and Chairman of Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) said Monday that while there is some appreciation for Pruhs’ apology “Accountability isn’t just about intent — it’s about impact,” Ridley said The apology comes after TCC responded to the Mayor’s post; Ridley saying they initially waited for him to take the first step “We hoped that after seeing the feedback on his post Mayor Pruhs would take the opportunity to clarify or correct his comments,” Ridley explained “We heard from hundreds of Tribal members who were hurt and demanding that their voices be respected,” he added along with his interview with Alaska’s News Source Pruhs used the hour-long radio show he hosts to tell the audience members he wanted to address the post’s context and hear community feedback including asking if people listening thought the post included racist remarks Pruhs said he’s “had to answer to a few of my close friends who are from the Native community.” what you said was not racist,’” Pruhs said adding that he had no intention of the message being racist “I’ve heard some very good comments,” he said but making me learn that this can be interpreted in not a good way and I just want people to know that I’ve learned.” Pruhs said that while mending relationships he said he has already reached out in an attempt to move forward “We are always open to meeting with Mayor Pruhs if he is willing to continue this conversation,” Ridley said On Monday evening at the city council meeting many residents expressed their frustration and disappointment regarding the mayor’s comments Alaska’s News Source reached out to the Fairbanks Native Association but had not heard back as of the publication of this article Written by RotoWire Staff Fairbanks earned the save in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Yankees striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning Fairbanks was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth and struck out the top of the Yankees' order on 15 pitches The 31-year-old has now converted save chances on back-to-back days for the second time this season and has been scored upon only once in his past 10 outings He's a perfect 8-for-8 in save opportunities while posting a 2.03 ERA 1.13 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 13.1 innings this season USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) celebrates with catcher Ben Rortvedt (30) after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The clash between the Diamondbacks and the Mets serves as a turning point in a challenging season where every inning demands determination and fresh energy—especially when a key.. A storied family legacy in baseball is about to ignite fresh competitive fervor on the diamond setting the stage for a unique confrontation between two brothers who have.. A torrential downpour failed to extinguish the flicker of hope in the hearts of Padres fans as hints of Jackson Merrill's imminent return emerged—even if nature had different.. An unexpected turn has reshaped the Texas Rangers' approach to offense as the organization brings in former star Bret Boone to lead their hitting efforts—a move that promises.. An electrifying return has reignited a surge of optimism as a resilient leader steps back onto the field after a daunting injury Resilience and Revival Luis Arraez’s comeback.. © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) - Nearly one year ago, a Douglas C54D aircraft crashed into the Tanana River minutes after taking off from Fairbanks International Airport The crash occurred on the morning of April 23 claiming the lives of the two people onboard — the pilot and co-pilot The final report from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed their findings and determined the most likely cause of the crash Investigators said the flight’s mission was to transport fuel and propane tanks As stated in NTSB’s preliminary report released nearly a week after the crash the plane was headed to the northwest Alaska community of Kobuk carrying 3,400 gallons of unleaded fuel and two 100-gallon propane tanks the pilot reported a fire onboard to air traffic control according to the final investigation report Witnesses who saw the plane take off reported seeing a trail of white smoke followed by flames coming from one of the engines what NTSB describe as a “bright white explosion” was seen from the engine After NTSB investigators reviewed the aircraft’s maintenance records they discovered the engine was replaced with an overhauled engine one week before the crash It was also revealed from the director of operations that the left fuel tank was reported days before the incident to leak when full the aircraft sat parked with fuel tanks inside leaking fuel into the wing space behind the engine that caught fire Once investigators examined the recovered engine and portions of the airframe they discovered the engine likely lost power after takeoff NTSB could not determine the reason for the loss of power due to what they describe as “extensive damage” to the recovered engine They also discovered that there was an improperly installed “B-nut fitting in the propeller feathering system which allowed engine oil to spray onto the exhaust system when the propeller was feathered following the loss of power in the engine.” due to the fuel leak and incorrect B-nut fitting which led to the aircraft’s loss of control The sequence of events occurred in under 10 minutes from takeoff at 9:55 a.m to the time communication was lost at 10:03 a.m See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com © 2025 University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics Thanks for visiting 2025FILE - Marvin Roberts flashes four fingers in a sign of solidarity for the so-called Fairbanks Four following his address at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage Murder charges against Roberts and the three others were vacated that year Roberts reached a settlement with the city and police officers in March File) The last plaintiff in a wrongful conviction lawsuit brought by the Fairbanks Four against city officials and police has settled for $11.5 million George Frese and Eugene Vent were convicted of killing 15-year-old John Hartman in Fairbanks in 1997 The four each spent nearly 20 years behind bars before their convictions were vacated in 2015 after a weekslong hearing in which evidence was presented that other people killed Hartman Roberts was the only man of the four not to settle a civil lawsuit against Fairbanks officials in 2023 The settlement came after a mediation session last weekend Roberts said no amount of money could “be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison who supported me throughout this nightmare.” [Previous coverage: After 18 years in prison, the Fairbanks Four settle into life as free men] The men sued the city and four police officers in 2017 for wrongful imprisonment They had signed an agreement granting their release that said they would not file a lawsuit but later argued the document was not legally binding because they were coerced A lower court judge dismissed the case but an appeals panel overturned that decision in 2020 Pease, Frese and Vent in 2023 reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit against the city for $1.59 million each, officials said at the time. The city did not admit liability or fault when agreeing to the settlement. Roberts, who is from the Yukon River village of Tanana, chose not to settle, according to his lawyer, Fairbanks attorney Mike Kramer. “He decided that is a wholly insufficient sum to come close to even compensating him for what he went through,” Kramer said Wednesday. “He wanted his day in court. That’s where we were headed.” His federal case was scheduled for trial in December. The attorney representing all four police officers withdrew from the case last month, citing a conflict of interest, according to court filings. A judge approved the withdrawal earlier this month. The case remained on schedule for trial. The parties involved in the lawsuit met for mediation on Saturday before reaching the settlement agreement. The City of Fairbanks and its insurance carrier agreed to the settlement with Roberts, according to a statement emailed by the city’s attorney, Thomas Chard. “This settlement brings an end to a civil lawsuit that was filed eight years ago, arising from the John Hartman murder in 1997 and the subsequent convictions,” the statement said. The law firms involved in the civil case were Fairbanks-based Kramer and Cosgrove and New York City-based civil rights firm Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP. Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com. Opens in new windowADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMost read by subscribers1 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away unexpectedly in his home on February 25 until the family moved to Fargo when he was about 15 years old.  Nathaniel worked during the seasonal sugar beet harvest He had a natural talent for working on cars and bikes and he enjoyed fixing them for other people He loved listening to music and playing games on his PlayStation Nathaniel was the rock of his family and loved them deeply but he also cared about strangers on the street and would lend a helping hand whenever he could.  He was preceded in death by his grandmothers Emily Fairbanks and Flo GreyEagle; his uncle A memorial gathering will be held Thursday Wright Funeral Home and Cremation Service-Moorhead Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Fairbanks worked a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his seventh save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Yankees The right-hander continued his effective start to the season Fairbanks is a perfect 7-for-7 in converting save chances and he's only been scored upon in two of his 13 appearances 1.22 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB through 12.1 innings.